Scraper loading apparatus



Oct. 11, 1938.

SCRAPER LOADING APPARATUS l.. A. CURRIER Filed MarchV 9, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet l 1f Pa/a 1@ 3a w46 Oct. 11, 193s. L A URI-ER 2,132,401

SCRAPER LOADING APPARTUS Filed March 9, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 a n are n n n n n n n n nn W///MWWWW/WM//M/W/Wm @fia Gct. 11, 1938. l.. A. cuRRu-:R

SCRAPER LOADING APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1957 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNiTED? s'rsrss SCRAPER LQADING APPARATUS- Leslie A. Currier, North Charlestown, N. H., as-

signor to Sullivan Machinery l Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Y Application March 9, 1937, Serial No. 129,861

16 Claims.

This invention relates to material loading apparatus and more particularly to improvements in a rock loading slide especially designed `to use with a hoist-operated scraper mechanism in underground mine or tunnel work.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved material loading apparatus. Another object is to provide an improved loading slide especially adapted to transport through sharply curved, relatively restricted mine or tunnel passageways. Yet another object is to'provide an improved rock loading slide especially designed for use underground in mines or tunnels and having embodied therein improved means for pivotally mounting the overhanging rearward portion of the slide structure, whereby negotiation of the apparatus around relatively sharp curves in the mine or tunnel passageway is facilitated. A still further object is to provide an improved rock loading slide having an elongated'rear'- ward slideway-providing structure, and embodying means for pivotally mounting the rearward structure, whereby the same may be swung horizontally during movement of the loading slide around sharply curved mine or tunnel passageways. Yet another object is to provide an improved pivotal mounting for the rearward boom structure of a rock loading slide, whereby the rearward boomy portion may be swung both vertically and horizontally in an improved manner. Still another object is to provide an improved wheel mounting structure for the bottom rearward portion of the boom structure, whereby the rear end of the boom, when the latter is swung downwardly about its horizontal pivot, may be guided by trailer wheels running along the mine or tunnel shaft trackway o-n which the rock loading slide is supported and guided, so that the Itrailing rearward boom portion follows the curvature of the mine or tunnel trackway. A further object is to provide' an improved pivotal mounting for the rear overhanging portion of the boom of a rock loading slide, whereby the rearward boom portion may be swung horizontally in either direction relative to the forward boom portion. These and other objects and advantages of the invention will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration two forms which the invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a rock loading slidehaving embodied therein the preferred illustrative form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the rock loading slid-e shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a View in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing Vthe scraper in operative loading position on the slideway.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a transverse Vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 isa diagrammatic view showing the apparatus moving through a curv-ed mineor tunnel passageway, with the rearward boom portion of the loading slide swivelled with respect to the truck to facilitate moving of the apparatus through the passageway.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of the rearward portion of the rock loading slide illustrating a modified form of construction.

Fig. 8 is a side el-evational view of the loading apparatus shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

Fig. l0 is a View in longitudinal vertical section taken substantially on line Illlil of Fig. '7. In the preferred illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, there is shown a material loading apparatus of the type commonly known as a rock loading slide especially designed to use with a hoist-operated scraper mechanism and particularly adapted'to loading loose rock in underground tunnel work. It will be evident, however, that the improved loading apparatus embodying my invention maybe adapted for loading material in any form ,of underground mining'work wherein the mine passages are relatively restricted and sharplyv curved. In this construction, the invention is shown, for illustrative purposes, embodied in a scraper loading slide of the same general character as that disclosed in the copending joint application of R. C. Osgood and myself, Serial No. 99,228, filed September 3, 1936, now matured into Patent No. 2,123,909, granted July 19, 1938. This scraper loading slide comprises a portable base in the form of a truck frame I mounted on wheels 2 adapted to run along a trackway 3 laid on the mine or tunnel-shaft bottom. Secured to the top of the truck :frame is a horizontal plate Il, on which is swivelly mounted at 5 on a vertical axis, a horizontal turntable plate 6. Mounted on the swiveled turntable plate is an upstanding framework l supporting a slide structure, generally designated 8. This slide structure comprises a horizontal, elongated, forward loading boom portion 9 having parallel side channel bars IIJ, IE) supported by the framework l and suitably rigidly secured together; the front boom portion having a forwardly and downwardly inclined front end II overhanging the front end of the truck, in the manner shown in Fig. 1. The slide structure 8 is also formed with a rearward boom portion l2 overhanging, a substantial distance, the rear end of the truck and pivotally mounted on the truck in an improved manner to be later described. This rearward boom portion l2 has side channel bars I3, I3 alined with the channel bars IIB, Iii, when the rear boom portion is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Secured to the framework I and the front boom portion S is an inclined bot*- tom plate I4 provided with vertical side plates I5 flared outwardly at the front end of the slide, while secured to the bottom of the side channel bars I D, I is a horizontal bottom plate I6 cooperating with the inclined bottom plate I4 to form a bottom slideway extending upwardly and rearwardly along the front boom portion. The rearward boom portion has a bottom plate l'I ilush with the bottom plate I5 and forming acontinuation of the bottom slideway, and flush with the bottom plate I'I and extending longitudinally along the inner sides of the channel bars i3, I3 are horizontal side plates I8, I8 providing guideways at the sides of a bottom discharge opening I9 rearwardly of the horizontal bottom plate' l?.

As clearly described in the copendingY application above referred to, mounted on the downwardly inclined front end of the front portion of the boom slideway is a double drum hoist which may be of the same general type as that disclosed in Patent No. 1,740,707 to R. C. Osgood, patented December 24, 1929. This hoist comprises a pull rope drum 2| and a tail rope drum 22, and these drums have respectively wound thereon pull and tail rope or drag-line cables 23 and 24. The pull rope cable 23 may be extended from its drum through suitable guides 25 arranged along the top of the boom slideway, and passes around horizontal guide sheaves 26 and 21, the latter being supported by a cross frame 28 secured to the rearward ends of the side channel bars I3, I3 of the rear boom portion. The pull rope extends around the guide sheave 2'! forwardly into connection at 29 to a scraper 36 of a conventional design, herein preferably of the hoe-box type. The tail rope cable extends from its drum beneath a guide roll 3| forwardly of the apparatus to a suitable anchored pulley (not shown) located adjacent the material to be loaded, the tail rope` passing around this pulley rearwardly back to the loading slide and beneath a horizontal guide roll 32 journaled on a horizontal channel bar 33 secured to the forward ends of the channel bars I0, I0 in the manner shown in Hg. 1. The tail rope extends beneath the guide roll 32 rearwardly into connection at 34 with the scraper.

As previously mentioned, the slideway boom structure is mounted on the swivelled turntable plate 6 to swing horizontally relative to the truck about the vertical axis 5, and any suitable means, such as those disclosed in the above mentioned copending application, may be employed to lock the slideway supporting plate to the truck. As also mentioned above, in accordance with the invention, the rearward boom portion of the scraper slideway is pivotally mounted. As shown in Fig. 3, xed to the truck is a circular bearing block 35 on which is journaled to turn about a vertical axis horizontally relative to the truck, a swivel frame or turntable 38. As illustrated, the vertical axis of the turntable frame 36 is located a distance substantially rearwardly of the turntable axis 5. Pivotallymounted on the turntable 36 as, at 31, on a horizontal pivot to swing vertically relative to the truck is an upstanding arm structure 38 rigidly secured at 39, as by welding, to the bottom of the rearward boom portion I2. Fixed, as by Welding, to the opposite sides of the channel bars II), Ill of the front boom portion 9 are rearward projections 4I), 40 to which the rear boom portion may be attached, as by screws or bolts 4I. When the attaching bolts are released,

CII

the rear boom portion may be swung downwardly about its horizontal pivot 31 by means of capstans 42, 42 arranged at opposite sides of the front boom portion 9 and iixed to a cross shaft 43 journaled on the top of the front boom portion, and this cross shaft has a usual hand crank 44 whereby the capstans maybe rotated. Wound on the capstans are cables 45, 45 extending along the sides of the boom structure and guided by guide sheaves 46 located at the opposite sides of the front boom portion 9 and attachable at their rear ends at 4I to the rearward end of the rearward boom portion I2. When the rear boom portion is in its lower position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.v 1, a pair of track wheels 48 journaled thereon engage the rails of the trackway 3, thereby to support and guide the rear boom portion as the loading apparatus moves along the trackway. When the capstans 42 are operated to wind in the cables, the rear boom portion I2 is swung upwardly about its pivot 31, and when the rear boom` portion assumes the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, the attaching bolts 4I are replaced to lock rigidly the rear and front boom portions together.

VIn the modied form of theV invention shown, in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, the rear overhanging boom portion 50 is pivotally mounted at 5I, 5Iv to the front boom portion of the loading apparatus, and these pivotal mountings comprise lugs 52 formed on the front end of the rear boom portion and intertting spaced lugs 53 secured to the rear end of the front boom portion, and these cooperating lugs have alined openings through which are insertible locking and pivot pins 54. Secured to the bottom of the rear boom portion at 55 is a horizontal plate 56 of semi-circular form underlying the front boom portion and mounted in a guide 51 secured to the bottom 'of -the front boom portion. When one or the other of the pivot pins 54 is removed, the rear boom portion may be swung horizontally relative to the front boom portion about one of the pivots 5I, and during such swinging movement the bottom plate 56 in its guideway 51 provides guiding and supporting means for the rear boom portion. Otherwise the scraper loading apparatus is similar to that above described.

The mode of operation of the improved loading apparatus will be clearly apparent from the description given. A suitable receptacle, such as a conventional mine car 58, may be placed beneath the overhanging extremity of the rearward boom portion I2 directly below the discharge opening I9, in the manner shown in Fig. 3.

The hoist 20 may then be operated to move the loading scraper 30 back and forth toward and from the pile of material to be loaded, and the scraper engages the material and drags the material toward the loading apparatus and up the inclined bottom slideway, until the scraper 30 assumes the position directly above the discharge opening I9, the material then beingv discharged Y by gravity from the scraper directly intothe mine CII Cil

ing for the rearward boom portion facilitate movement of the loading apparatus during transport through a curved mine passageway of small radius, it being possible to swivel the front and rear portions of the slideway structure about their respective pivotal 'axes with respect to the truckY as the apparatus moves through the curved passage. When vit is desired to transport the vloading apparatus about the mine or tunnel passageway, .the operator releases the attaching' bolts 4l, in the preferred form of the invention, andyby rotating the capstans 42, the rear boom portion is swung downwardly about its pivot until the wheels 48 thereon engage the trackway, and as the apparatus moves along the curved trackway through the relatively restricted" passage- Way of the mine or tunnel, the rear boom portion trails behind the main body of the apparatus, the engagement of the wheels with the vtrackway "causing the rear boom portion to swing horizontally about the pivotal axis ofthe turntable 36 relative to the truck, thereby to facilitate movement of the apparatus around a curve of small radius, in the manner shown in Fig. 6. In the modified form of the invention, as the apparatus moves around a sharp curve, the rear boom portion may be swung horizontally in one direction or the other about one of the pivots 5|, Vwhile at the same time the forward boom portion may be swung about the front turntable pivot 5 relative to the truck, thereby to facilitate movement of the apparatus about the curve. Other uses and advantages of the improved scraper loading ap-l paratus will be clearly apparent to those skilled 1 in the art. Y

' While there are in this application specifically described'two forms which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are shown for purposes of illustration and that the invention may be further modified and embodied in Various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a scraper loading apparatus, a portable base, a horizontal frame mounted on said base and having forward and rearward slideway-providing portions cooperating to provide a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, said rearward slideway-providing portion overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said base, and means for pivotally mounting said rear overhanging slideway-providing po-rtion of said frame on said base for horizontal swinging movement relative to said forward slideway-providing portion.

2. In a scraper loading apparatus, a portable base, a horizontal frame mounted on said base and providing a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, said horizontal frame having its rearward slideway-providing portion overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said base, means for pivotally mounting said rear overhanging portion of said frame for horizontal swinging movement relative to the forward portion thereof, and detachable means for rigidly securing said rearward frame portion in alined relation with said forward frame portion.

3. In a scraper loading apparatus, a portable base, a horizontal frame mounted on said base land providing a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, said horizontal frame having its rearward slideway-providing portion overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said base, means for pivotally mounting said rear overhanging portion of saidframe for swinging movement in a vertical direction relative to the forward portion thereof, and detachable means for locking said rearward frame portion inl its operative position in'alined relation with the forward frame portion.

4. In a scraper loading apparatus, a portable base, a horizontal frame mounted o-n said base and providing a slideway along which a scraper loaderv isadapted to move, said frame having its rearward `slideway-providing portion overhanging a vsubstantial distance the rear end of said base, means for pivotally mounting said rear overhanging portion of said frame for swinging movements in horizontal and vertical directions relative to the forward portion thereof, and ldetachable means for locking said `rearward frame portion in its operative position in horizontal alined relation with the forward frame portion.

5. In a scraper loading apparatus, a wheeled truck adapted to run along a trackway, a horizontal frame mounted on said truck and providing f a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, said frame havingv its rearward slideway-providing portion overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said truck,

means for pivotally mounting the rear overand `engageable with thev trackway when said overhanging frame portion is swung downwardly.

6. In a scraper loading apparatus, a Whe-eled truck adapted to run along atrackway, a horizontal frame mounted on said truck and providing a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, said frame having its rearward portion overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said truck, means for pivotally mounting the rear overhanging portion of said frame for horizontal and vertical swinging movement relative to the forward portion thereof, and truck wheels mounted at the rear end of said overhanging frame portion and engageable with the trackway when said overhanging frame portion is swung downwardly.

'1. In a scraper loading apparatus, a portable base, an elongated horizontal frame structure mounted on said base and providing a slideway along which a loading structure is adapted to move, the rearward slideway-providing portion of said frame structure overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said base, a hoist mounted on said frame structure and including a cable windng drum, a cable guide journaled on the rear end of said rearward overhanging frame portion, means for pivotally mounting the rear overhanging portion of saidframe structure for swinging movement in a vertical direction relative to the forward portion thereof, and detachable means for locking said rearward frame portion in its operative position in horizontal alined relation with th-e forward frame portion.

8. In a scraper loading apparatus, a portable base, an elongated horizontal frame structure mounted on said base and providing a slideway along which a loading structure is adapted to move, the rearward slideway-providing portion of said frame structure overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said base, a hoist on said frame structure and including a cable Winding drum, a cable guide journaled on the rear discharge end of said rearward overhanging frame portion, means for pivotally mounting the rear overhanging portion of said frame structure for swinging movement in horizontal and vertical directions relative to the forward portion thereof, and detachable means for locking said rearward frame portion in its operative position in horizontal alined relation with the forward frame portion.

9. In a scraper loading apparatus, a portable base, an elongated horizontal frame structure mounted on said base to swing horizontally relative thereto about a vertical axis and having forward and rearward slideway-providing portions cooperating to provide a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, said rearward slideway providing portion overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said base, and means for pivotally mounting the rearward slide- Way-providing portion of said frame structure for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis relative to the forward slideway-providing portion thereof.

l0. In a scraper loading apparatus, a portable base, an elongated horizontal frame Vstructure mounted on said base to swing horizontally relative thereto about a vertical axis and providing a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, the rearward portion of said frame structure overhanging a'substantial distance the rear end of said base, and means for pivotally mounting the rearward portion of said frame structure for horizontal swinging movement about a vertical axis relative to the forward portion thereof, said last mentioned vertical axis spaced a substantial distance rearwardly of the base from said first mentioned vertical axis.

11. In a scraper loading apparatus, a portable base, a horizontal frame mounted on said base and providing a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, said frame having its rearward slideway-providing portion overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said base,

f means for pivotally mounting said rear overhanging portion of said frame for vertical and horizontal swinging movements relative to the forward portion thereof, means on the forward portion of said frame and connected to the rear end of said overhanging rear frame portion for swinging said rear frame portion in said vertical direction, and detachable means for locking said rearward frame portion in operative position in horizontal alined relation with the forward frame portion.

l2. In a scraper loading apparatus, a portable base, a horizontal frame mounted on said base and providing a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, said frame having its rear portion overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said base, and means for pivotally mounting said overhanging rear portion of said frame for horizontal swinging movement relative to the forward portion thereof, said rearward frame portion pivotally mounted on the rear end of said forward portion on spaced vertical axes and selectively swingabl-e in opposite directions about either of said axes.

13. In a scraper loading apparatus, a portable base, a horizontal frame mounted on said base and providing a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, said frame having its rear portion overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said base, means for pivotally mounting said overhanging rear portion of said frame for horizontal swinging movement relative to the forward portion thereof, said rearward frame portion pivotally mounted on the rear end ofl said forward portion on spaced vertical axes and selectively swingable in opposite directions about -either of said axes, and guiding means on said rearward frame portion engaging a guideway on said front frame portion for guiding said rear frame portion during swinging thereof.

14. In a scraper loading apparatus especially designed to use in underground mine or tunnel work, a portable base, a frame structure mounted on said base and providing a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, said frame structure having its rearward slidewayproviding portion projecting a substantial distance rearwardly of said base, a hoist mounted on the front end of saidV frame structure and having drag-line cables operated thereby and connected to the loading scraper for moving the latter along said slideway, a cable guide journaled on the rear extremity of said overhanging rear portion of said frame structure, means for adjustably mounting said rearward overhanging frame portion for horizontal movement laterally in either of opposite directions relative to the front portion of said slideway-providing frame structure to facilitate movement of the apparatus through a sharply curv-ed mine or tunnel passage, and detachable means for rigidly locking the rearward frame portion in its operative position in horizontal alined relation with the forward front frame portion.

15. In a scraper loading apparatus, a wheeled truck adapted to run along a trackway, a horizontal frame mounted on said truck and having forward and rearward slideway-providing portions cooperating to provide a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, said rearward slideway-providing portion overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said truck, means for pivotally mounting the rear overhanging slideway-providing portion of said frame for vertical swinging movement relative to the forward slideway-providing portion thereof, and track engaging guides mounted on the rear discharge end of said overhanging slideway-providing frame portion and engageable with the track- Way when said overhanging frame portion is swung downwardly.

16. In a scraper loading apparatus, a'wheeled truck adapted to run along a trackway, a horizontal frame mounted on said truck and providing a slideway along which a loading scraper is adapted to move, said frame having its rearward portion overhanging a substantial distance the rear end of said truck, means for pivotally mounting the rear overhanging portion of said frame for horizontal and vertical swinging movement relative to the forward portion thereof, and track engaging guides mounted at the-rear end of said overhanging frame portion and engageable with the trackway when said overhanging frame portion is swung downwardly.

LESLIE A. CURRIER. 

